FROM THE ARCHIVES' DROMANA DEFEAT ARMY 1964

‘FROM THE ARCHIVES’
            DROMANA DEFEAT ARMY
                    1964
                       Reference: FTA: 2021/3

          JOHN NIX’S BRILLIANT DISPLAY
                 ROUND: 1 / 1964
1964 was a most successful season for the Dromana FC with the Senior XVIII
reaching the finals and the Under 18 team winning the premiership. Dromana
was affiliated with the Nepean Football League; and two of the other teams, in
the league that season, were the Army and the Naval Depot.

In Round: 1 in 1964, Dromana played the Army and won in definitive fashion.
Newly appointed DFC coach, John Nix, made a memorable entry into Nepean
football that day with a brilliant display of powerful running and unerring
accuracy in front of goals. When John Nix arrived at Pier Street, he was in his
final year as a player but he made a dramatic impact during in his ‘short stay’
with the club.

From what can be gleaned from the brief match report, the Army started well
but by half-time Dromana had kicked away to a 10 goal lead. The team won in
all positions in a systematic and skilled exhibition of ‘team-football.’ John Nix
kicked nine goals against the Army to assist Dromana to a landslide victory in
an extremely one-sided affair.

While at DFNC , John Nix was a dynamic player, an inspiring leader and he
kicked 55 goals that year. Those who were lucky enough to see John Nix play
will never forget his stamina across quarters, fine balance and, of course, a
feature of his game was his superb disposal.

FINAL SCORES:
   • Dromana: 25.29 (179) defeated Army: 3.9 (27).
GOAL KICKERS:
   • Nix 9, Fowler 4, Clay 3 and Taylor 2 (Unfortunately, the other goal
     kickers that day were not listed; and the team’s best players were not
     included in the press report.)

NOTES ABOUT JOHN NIX –
A ‘BOY WONDER’ FROM TRAFALGAR FC.

John Nix played his first AFL game at the young age of seventeen. John, who
had starred in country football, with Trafalgar, was signed by Richmond FC in
1949. He took little time to establish himself in VFL ranks; and he made his
debut against Melbourne in Round: 11. Imagine going from the ‘scenic bush
oval’, in the town of Trafalgar, to take the field in front of a crowd of more
than 23, 000 fans at the ‘home of Australian Rules’, the MCG…

        “John Nix, the 17-year-old Trafalgar boy who shaped so well
        last year, was the outstanding player in Richmond's final
        work-out on Saturday. Nix came to the club as a wing man,
        but he has put on weight during the summer and was tried at
        wing half-forward. He played really well in that position.
        Source: ‘The Argus’ April 17th 1950 Page: 16

                     Source: ‘The Argus’ July 15th 1950. Page 10.

John went on to play 95 games with Richmond (1949-1956) and was a strong
and uncompromising midfielder. In 1957, he was cleared to Sale in the Latrobe
Valley Football League and coached Sale to premiership flags in 1957 and 1959.
John Nix was a legend in the LVFL; and he was named captain of the star-
studded Sale team of the century.

In the years prior to arriving at Dromana, he coached Mornington and Koo
Wee Rup. (See the extract below). In 1965, John returned to Richmond FC as
an assistant coach to Tom Hafey; and would, in time, win wide praise for his
role in developing young footballers.

                         John Nix in action at Richmond.
                         Source: ‘Kornies’ football cards.

                   Source: ‘The Argus’ August 11th 1952 Page: 10

THE BIOGRAPHY OF JOHN NIX – ‘TIGERLAND ARCHIVE’

Younger readers maybe interested to read the biography of John Nix as
published in the ‘Tigerland Archives’. The ‘Archives provide an informative
insight into the VFL-AFL careers of every Richmond footballer since 1885. The
all-inclusive RFC records are the dedicated research of two well-known AFL
historians Trevor Ruddell and Rhett Bartlett (i.e. Kevin’s son)…

    John Nix played in the centre. He was recruited from Trafalgar where
    he won the Competition Best and Fairest award as a 16 year-old. He
    kept himself in very good shape and was a well muscled player for his
    era. He spent eight seasons with Richmond before moving to Sale as
    a playing coach.

John later coached Mornington and Dromana before returning to
     Richmond as a Recruiting Officer in 1964 and 1965. He then coached
     the Richmond Reserves between 1966 and early 1969. John achieved
     the outstanding record of 56 wins and 2 draws from 70 games.

     Under his guidance the reserves went through the 1966 season
     undefeated eventually winning the Grand Final thanks to a late goal
     by a young Royce Hart. They were also runners-up in 1967 and 1968
     to North Melbourne and Essendon respectively. In 1967 he was
     awarded Life Membership of the Richmond Football Club. He
     resigned as Reserves coach in early 1969; however remained on the
     selection committee until 1980. A former policeman, he later ran a
     newsagency in Belgrave and now lives in the southern suburbs. His is
     the father-in-law of former Richmond player Matthew Wall.

This is a rare photograph of John Nix following his departure from Dromana to take up a
coaching role with Richmond FC. In this photo, John can be seen in the centre of the
group of Richmond players listening to Tom Hafey’s instructions. Other players depicted
the photograph include Billy Brown, Neville Crowe, Royce Hart and Fred Swift.

In 1964, Trevor Clay won the club’s Best and Fairest award, Bob Brindley won
the Most Consistent Player trophy and Brian McCormick was deemed the Most
Determined player. Andrew Emerson won the Best First Year Player award.

As has been mentioned on this website previously, a remarkable aspect of the
year was that the Under 18 team, coached by Bill Martin, went through the
entire 1964 season undefeated and claimed the flag.

NOTE:
  • Further stories about John Nix and the 1964 season can be found on this
    website. John is still on the club’s mailing list and takes a special interest
    in the fortunes of DFNC.

• Former South Melbourne star Kevin Hogan (and the ather of Liam Hogan
     who played 54 games with DFNC in 2011-2013) coached Sale FC in 1961,
     64 and 65.

CLUB HISTORY - CAN YOU HELP?
 The above article was originally written for the club in 2014 and has been
redrafted and updated and filed on the Dromana Football Club’s website for
future reference.

DFNC is working determinedly to ‘fill the gaps’ in the club’s history and
photographs, press cuttings, team sheets and other memorabilia are most
welcome. There may be readers who have match reports/ cuttings from their
years at Pier Street. Please feel welcome to forward to be posted on the
website for posterity.
One of the best ways to thank the hundreds of players, officials and volunteers
who have built DFNC is to ensure that they are remembered by recording the
contribution and endeavours for future generations to read and appreciate.
Thank you. Roger for DFNC –February 2021.

REFERENCE & RESEARCH INFORMATION
Sources: NLA local newspapers- ‘Tigerland Archives’- AFL website- DFNC publications.
Article reference: 1964 Dromana v Army & John Nix - (Ref: FTA 2021/3)
Researched and written for DFNC by: Roger Spaull-February 2021.
DFNC website administrator: Graham Stelling. DFNC Secretary-Board Member.
Email contacts: historian@dromanatigers.com.au. or admin@dromanatigers.com.au